Internal-combustion engine



Nov. 25, 1924# 1,517,191

J. BURNAND INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Nov. z5, 1921. 1,517,191

i J. BURNAND INTERNAL COMBUS TI ON ENGINE Filed May ,22'l 1922 e sheets-sheet 2 l l l 0V. 25 1924 1,517,191' .1.l BURNAND INTERNAL `COMBUSTI ON ENGINE Pima may 22, 1922 e sheets-sheet s NOV. 259

LSHJM J. BURNAND INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filwd May 22 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 4' Nov. 25, 1924. 1,517,191

J. BURNAND INTERNAL COMBUSTI ON ENGINE J. BURNAND INTERNAL coMBUsi-Ion ENGINE Filed May 22 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Nov. 25, 1924..

JOHN BUR/NAND, OF TEDDTNGTN,

lrn'rnananeonens'rsoiv inner-inn.'

Application inlewMay 22, 1922. Serial No. 4562.744.

:To all whom -t meg/1 concern Be it known that l, lloriN BURNnNm subjectol" :the :King-ef Great Britain, residing :at iloseneath 103, Gamhridge (Road, rlledldington, Middlesex, England, have invented `certain new `and useful improvements 'in and Connected with InternalCombustion Enginesyof which the Ifollowing is a Specfilication.

The invention yrelates to an `internal'coin- -hustion lengi-ne ot' Ithe *two-cycle' type, and particularly to 'this type -operating on `the Diesel :or semi-Diesel principle, although fgas, petrol Aor other tuel imay he used.

An engine according vto the invention is wthoutfcranl: shaft, fly Iwheel andfconnecting rod, and employs in substitution thereltor, 4and for general simplification and f-eiiieienCy, one or more 'oscillating or swing- `ahle weights arranged and connected up Ato the power piston or ,pistons to co-act -therewith so fthat a movement Iot .-oneaor `more Iof Vsaid weights in any vdirection .absorbs a suiiicient amount` of energy .from the power stroke, at approximatelyithe maxiinnin period `tliereo,-so -as -to be able 'to fgi-ve -ont said'energy for the compression ot the next lsucceeding charge.

Suefh Van engine `is particularly Vsuita-lele `for drivinga Yrecifprocating pump or punigps, or `air compressors, 'or Ipower hammer, or ysuch lijke.

Particularly ithe iinvention is Lapplicalole 4 `casing onthe line A. B. Fig. l, the .pistons `to'afdouble=acting type of internalcombustionengine as the power Vpistons compress `charges =on -both sides, vwhich charges .fhave `cushioning `eiiects on 4the action of the `weights ias `will 4he hereinafter miade clear. En vthis double `acting 'type separate air lpump pistons .may `he larranged `to :provide scavenging `air and the air complement off Ithe exliilosiye'charge, whereas intheca-se'of single iacting fengines -air :pressure lis' also .provided at vthe `other end of the power f plstonior cushioningthefaction 'of the swing- -vahle `weight -or weights.

A desirable :arrangement of engine Aac- #eording tothe'inventionlisy one of thedoublenoting type in which fthe .same Vswingalole iweights Vvbecome loperative `for compression `atlooth ends ofthe-cylinder,hut eomloined Itherewith `is :a v`straight-line moving weight =to also'lahsorh asufcient amount otenergy out of one po-wer stroke 5 to .give said energy `out orcompressionat the `next succeeding ipower stroke.

The 4weightor .weights .and their yoperation are 'under the control oli .the power .pistonorapistons at onetime andcontrol said pistOnoLpist'Ons at another.time,.and their et- .t'ectiveoperation is yintended to `hethe equivar [lent4 of lthe Amaximum compression pressurel of the combustion charge, so that the .amount ofthe compression pressure `can he con-` veniently adjusted or regulated, while at `the 4same time there is .no dea-d `action throughout the cycle of -operation-s vand .no damagecan arise roin'seizure of `pistons or `from lpredgnition. y

The aforesaid essential features of the invention will he more clearly understood by the :description hereinafter appearing` with reference Ato the accompanying drawings which show two `iorms ot engine of double- `acting type and two :forms of `engine of singleeacting-type, all operating on the twocycle4 ,principle Fig. Yl Yisa sectional elevation ofadouhleacting .type of internal combustion engine .intended Yto operate `npon .the semi-Diesel principle, said` engine being 'a yertical `one and using two swingahle weights.

. 2 fis `a .sectional elevation similar fto l 4lout.lookingatsrightanglesto V4Fig. l.

Lista plan of 'Fig'. yl vbut with thetwo oscillating weight-s which. are shown .in the .dotted lmsition-s )in Fig. 1 shown in the full positions.

YFig. l shows a plan .through the engine loeing lremoved.

FigJ showsby aneleva-tion how the invention may he yapplied to a double-acting vertical engine ,by l combining `one swingable .weight with a straight-line moving' weight instead oli `combining two swingahle weights.

lFig. 6 shows the .invention applied to a singlefacting .vertical engine.

lFig. 7 vis atletail ofFig. 6.

'Fig. 8 showsfhow the vinvention is applied -to a single actingrhorizontal engine.

Inail the ligures ofthe 4drawimgsthe same letters of reference are used where .permissible to indicate similar parts.

Intheexample Figs. l to 4 a.. and 0 aretwo douhle-aetingpower pistons rigidly connectedby .reciprocatingrods a2, 02 toa common crosshead d, whiclralso has rigidly coupled Ito .it.thereciprocating.rods e2, f2 ot two air ,pump gpistons e, 7*', whichare .double-acting and operate tortheprovision of scavenging aira-ndfor the provisiono'f the air complement of the combustion charge; The rods e2, f2 of the air pump pistons extend from both sides of the pistons, and below are rigidly attached to the coupling member g, to which at g2 a rod or other connecting piece is attached for driving a liquid or other pump or compressor or other part or object outside the engine itself.'

The cylinders of the power pistons a and 0 are at a3, c3 and they communicate with each other at each end as shown at 71,. The cylinders of the air pistons are aty c3, f3 and they form part of the "same casing as the power clinders, which casing is illustrated as being formed in two main parts, upper and lower, joining up to each other at the facings indicated by the line A. B. Fig. l.

z' and j indicate fuel valves to the power cylinders. 7c indicates a starting valve to said cylinders. Z indicates spaces in the casing for the circulation of cooling water, and m indicates an air chamber having passages n leadingk therefrom into, and from,

the power cylinders to the exhaust outlet 0, the operation of all of which parts will be hereinafter described with the general cycle ofV operations. `1 diaphragm inlet valve g is provided at each end of the air pump cylinders e3, f3 and also at each of said ends a non-returii flap valve r leading from the air pump cylinders into the chamberlI m.

It is intended that the air pumps, aforesaid, shall provide in the air chamber m a pressure of from twenty to thirty pounds absolute. The fuel valves z' and 7' are mechanically operated, and the fuel is forced into the power cylinders at a high pressure, much greater than the ordinary compression pressure which may be conveniently stated to be three-hundred pounds to the square inch.

Y A lever s rocking on a shaft s2 is indicated for opening each fuel valve i and by moving the sleeve s3 from oft the fixed cone s* against any suitable spring action for closing said valve. Similarly the starting rvalve`7c is opened mechanically from a lever 742 lifting the mushroom head 7c3 off its seating against the action of the coiled spring at, 765 indicating a chamber communicating with the compressed air supply used only for starting up. Intermediate of the length of each power cylinder a3, 03 is shown an undulating ring spa-ce providing the passages a. One ring space communicates from the air chamber m to the cylinder 03, and the other ring space from the cylinder a3 to the exhaust outlet o, the scavenging taking place by the scavenging air blowing into the one power cylinder and through into the other and out at the other yring space to the eX- haust, to subsequently leave an amount of air in both cylinders which is trapped by the power pistons and compressed to form the air complement of the combustion charge.

The foregoing in relation to the drawings forms no material pait of the invention claimed, but only a convenient adaptation in the application of the invention which will now be described.

The cross head al and the coupling member g and the pistons and parts connected therewith constitute a weight in this vertical type of engine tending to move the power and pump pistons downwardly in their stationary cylinders.

To the cross head al at (Z2, Z2 are fulcrunied the one end of two rigidly built swingable levers 2 and 3 carrying weights L and 5 at their free ends. These swingable levers are each pivoted at 6 to the one end of a swingable link 7 whose other end is pivoted at S to a fixed part of the engine casing. The weighted levers 2 and 3 are therefore colleetively moved at one time by the reciprocation of the power pistons and in turn exert their influence on said power pistons et cetera at another time, said levers swinging to two positions the one vertical as shown in full lines in Fig. l and the other horizontal as shown in full lines in Fig. 3 and iu dotted lines in Fig. l. Said levers on being moved in one direction absorb a sulicient amount of energy from the power stroke at approximately the maximum period thereof to give same out for the conipression of the next succeeding charge; for example, assuming the parts in the positions illustrated by Fig. l, the effective coinbustion within the lower ends of the power cylinders throws over the action of the weighted levers from vertical, as shown in the full lines, to beyond the dead line in swing, at the same time lifting the cross head d and the coupling member g and the parts moving therewith, absorbing for such purpose an amount of energy from the power stroke at approximately the maximum period thereof. Immediately the weighted levers move or throw over beyond their dead line in swing they automatically operate to lift the power pistons, et cetera, giving out for this purpose the energy stored up in them to ultimately cause the compression of the next succeeding charge within the upper ends of the cylinders, at which time said levers take up the horizontal positions as shown in the dotted lines in Fig. l and full lines in Fig. 3.

It will be seen from Fig. l that the ring passage a is open to the air chamber m, and

that the cylinder c3 is open t0 the cylinder a?,

from which latter the ring passage a proceeds to the exhaust'o. Therefore before the upst-roke of the power pistons commences the power cylinders at their upper ends are scavenged and during the upstroke of the power pistons the air complement of the combustion charge is trapped in the power cylinders and compressed, so that against the action of the weights l and 5 there is always at each end di the cylinders a resilient cushion due to compressing the air compl'ement oftliecoinbustion charge. Then combustion takes place at the upper ends of the power cylinders a portion ot the energy lol2 the power stroke at the maximum peric'd is used to swing the weighted levers 2 and 3 'from horizontal positions to beyond, 'or over, the dead line in swing 'of said levers, after which` said i'veighted levers together with the cross head l and coupling member g and parts movi ing therewith exert a downward inluence on the power pistons compressing the aircompleinent of the combustion charge` to maximum compression pressure, ready for firii'rg.

In the example oi "the invention Fig. 5 'a single oscillating or swingable iif'ei'ghtedlever 2 is employed in combination with a straight-line moving weight, d, forming the cross head connecting th'e power and pump piston rods, but otherwise. this example is only a modification oit the figures previously described.

The weighted 'lever is fulcrumed ate to the stationary frame, i's 'weighted at ll, and .is coupled tothe straight-line moving cross head, al, at @Z2 by a slot and a bearing block sliding therein. In this example the swingable weighted lever 2 operates 4for compression on the upstrok'e, and the weighted crossliead for compression on the downstroke, each of these weights absorbing a sufiicient ainoi'int of energy from power strokes at approximately the maximum pe riod to ultimately give same out for the compression of the next succeeding charge in the particular order.

The example of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is a single acting vertical engine. a is the power piston, 2 is the swingable weighted lever, and d is the weighted cross head. The lever is ulcrumed at (Z2 to a fixed part of the engine casing, and connects with the cross head at 6 by rollers 7 engaging a transverse gap cl3 in the cross head. The lever can swing through a gap al* at the upper end of the cross head without the rollers 7 ever becoming disconnected from the gap they engage. In this arrangement an air cushion is provided at the upper end of the cylinder in which the power piston works so that there is an automatic rebound action of the power piston from the upper end of its stroke tending to start the action of the weighted leverr 2 from vertical position. rIhis upper end of the cylinder also provides scavenging air under pressure and for the air complement of the combustion clirO'e. For this purpose n is a non-return air inlet lvalve admitting air into the upper portion of the cylinder as the piston makes its down-stroke after opening the inlet port n2. On the upstroke the trapped air is compressed and forced through the lower part of the cylinder by Aactioi'i from vertical position. In `-this {example'z' indicates the fuel inlet'valife through which `fuel :is fed to tlie 'cylinder under `pressurein any convenient manner. y

y, The horizontal "erampleof the invention Fig'. 8 issubstantially iiiaccordance with the exa-inple Figs. (i vand Af7 except that 'the 'weighted lever '2 has no permanent connection with the power piston rod and in addition operates against a yielding relioundingbufier ai fixed to the engine fl'rame. 'The ulcrum ofthe lever 2 isat d2 tothe stationary frame and the arm of it contacting the power vpiston works 'loo'seljyjagainst a thrust collar x2 lixed to the power piston rod. i/ indicates a hammer 'drill driven `by the straight-line moving power .piston whose rod o2 only is shown. rI 'hemovementof 'the power piston in one direction l'it'ft's` the weighted lever to the vertical throwing it against the butter x, which instantly rebounds the 'lever to throw it 'over so Ythat it becomes 'operative to move the power piston in `the reverse 'direction Acompressing the combustion charge, Vso "that herein an oscil- [lat'iig or swiigable weight `isa1-rangedso that its movement in 'one direction absorbs a suhcient anioiuit'o'il energy of the :power stroke 'at approximately 'the' maximum 'period thereof to give -saniefont lfor the conipressi'on ofthe next succeeding charge. The action within the power cylinder may be substantially in accordance with what has been described in connection with Fig. 6.

Apart from! the absence of crank shaft, fly wheel and connecting rod the engine of the invention has other advantages. There is no dead centre, the firstcost is low, there is less wea-r and tear on the reciprocating parts and on the cylinder walls, and no dangers can arise from seizure of piston or preignition, all resulting in greater eiiiciency.

I-Iaving now described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Lette-rs Patent is :m

l. In an internal combustion engine of the two-cycle type, the combination with a vertically arranged cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein of means for absorbing energy from said piston at the beginning of the explosion stroke and returning it to said piston toward the end of said stroke, comprising a weight, an oscillatable lever upon which said weight is mounted, pivotally connected to said piston, a link pivotally secured to a fixed part of the engine and affording a fulcrumi for said lever, said fulcrum being out of line with the weight and said point of connection, said lever havingy a position toward one limit of its range of oscillatory movement in vvhich the Weight isv carried in a substantially vertical line with said pointoll connection, and a position at the other end of its range of oscillatory .nrovement, on the opposite side of said fulcrum, the oscillatory movement of said weight in either direction being initiated by said piston and continued beyond the fulcrum of said lever by gravity.

2. An internal combustion engine having a vertically arranged cylinder, a piston and piston rod operable therein on the two-cycle principle, a link pivotally connected to said cylinder, a Weighted lever pivotally conhneetedv both with the piston rod and to y ao Vnesting said ylever toy said easing, the arrangement being such that when the piston and rod aie acting under approximate-ly maXimuml force the lever-Will absorb energy andwill perform Work onsaid piston and vrod duri-ng the compression stroke of the pistony succeeding the power stroke.

4. In a two-cycle internal eombustion engine having a vertically arranged cylinder and a piston and piston rod operable therein, said piston being power-driven in both its up and down stroke, weights associated with said rod and having rectilinear movement therewith, and a weight pivotally eonneeted to said rod and having angular movement relative to its pivot point, said last named weight being also pivotally connected by a link with the cylinder easing, the weights being so arranged relative to the piston that energy is stored up at the periods of maxinrum energy of the piston in both directions of its movement respectively in the rectilinearally mbving and the angularly moving weights and respectively used in the next succeeding compression of gas by said piston.

5. In a two-cycle internal combustion engine having a vertically arranged cylinder and a piston and piston rod operable therein, a weighted lever pivoted to the upper end of said rod, a link pivoted at its one end to said lever and at its other end to the cylinder casing, the arrangement of the link and related parts with the casing and piston rod being such that when the weighted lever is in vertical position its weight will be almost wholly sustained by said link and exert substantially no force on said piston rod.

In testimony whereotl I have hereunto set my hand 1n presence ol two subscribing witnesses.

J Ol-IN BURNAND. litnesses GEO. T. Fnnnr, Jol-IN P. FUERY. 

